P.S. But I agree it is too easy to go to the shopping center and buy automatic weapon. I know not everyone is ready to own a gun.

I came to this dance late. You cannot go to the shopping center anywhere in the United States and buy an automatic weapon. Semi-automatic, yes, if you pass a background check. It takes a special permit to own an automatic weapon legally in the US.

su27 - How did strict gun laws, and possibly prohibition (I don't know that much about your country's history) work for Europe in the late 1930s?

It appears that the easiest thing to do to a populace is to disarm them of their common sense, and the best way to do that is to arm them with as many firearms as possible. More guns = fewer brains.

I was considering entering this debate, as a gun owner, recreational shooter, and 2nd Amendment supporter - i.e., the sacrificial Christian among the atheists. But, with comments like the above, from a Global Mod whatever that is, I can tell the debate is meaningless.

But, with comments like the above, from a Global Mod whatever that is, I can tell the debate is meaningless.

Hi Odin.

If you've read this thread you'd see that both sides of this topic are represented, though it appears the pro-regulation crowd is slightly larger. At least one moderator is among the pro-gun group. It has been a civil discussion all around and there has been no abuse by staff, as far as I can tell.

So I wonder where this passive-agressive comment of yours comes from. Do you fear censorship? If so, why? No one here has been censored for their opinions. Do you fear being banned? If so, why? No one here has been banned for their opinions. Don't look for convenient excuses to not engage.

It appears that the easiest thing to do to a populace is to disarm them of their common sense, and the best way to do that is to arm them with as many firearms as possible. More guns = fewer brains.

I was considering entering this debate, as a gun owner, recreational shooter, and 2nd Amendment supporter - i.e., the sacrificial Christian among the atheists. But, with comments like the above, from a Global Mod whatever that is, I can tell the debate is meaningless.

Odin, King of the Gods

Global Moderators know a lot. They have opinions, too.

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John 14:2 :: In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Some of the senators who voted against the background-check amendments have met with grieving parents whose children were murdered at Sandy Hook, in Newtown. Some of the senators who voted no have also looked into my eyes as I talked about my experience being shot in the head at point-blank range in suburban Tucson two years ago, and expressed sympathy for the 18 other people shot besides me, 6 of whom died. These senators have heard from their constituents — who polls show overwhelmingly favored expanding background checks. And still these senators decided to do nothing. Shame on them.

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John 14:2 :: In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Arizona just passed a bill that would require police departments that have that "turn in your gun and get cash" program to resell the guns to gun dealers instead of destroying them like in the past. Seems kind of dumb to take them in and then put them back on the streets...but then it is Arizona.

Arizona just passed a bill that would require police departments that have that "turn in your gun and get cash" program to resell the guns to gun dealers instead of destroying them like in the past. Seems kind of dumb to take them in and then put them back on the streets...but then it is Arizona.

I think the idea is twofold: 1) the police department raises money for itself, and 2) due to the background checks, the guns are only resold to non-prohibited persons.

In any event, there are a lot of other jurisdictions that have rules that are far, far worse. Some, for example, mandate that any firearm that was used in a crime must be destroyed. It's surprising how many people don't see what the problem is with that.

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[On how kangaroos could have gotten back to Australia after the flood]: Don't kangaroos skip along the surface of the water? --Kenn

Some, for example, mandate that any firearm that was used in a crime must be destroyed. It's surprising how many people don't see what the problem is with that.

I don't see the problem with that. Irrational? Yes. But not a problem. What am I missing?

What you're missing is that law enforcement should first make an effort to identify the rightful owner of the firearm and return the gun to him. If the owner cannot be identified, that's one thing; if the lawful owner was negligent in some way regarding how the gun was used in the commission of the crime, than that, too, would be one thing. However, if (for example) it's a gun that was initially lawfully owned, then stolen from the owner's house and subsequently used in a homicide or robbery, then the rightful owner of the gun has the right to have the gun back after all the criminal proceedings and everything are over with. In such a case, the government has no more right to destroy the gun than the burglar had to steal it in the first place.

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[On how kangaroos could have gotten back to Australia after the flood]: Don't kangaroos skip along the surface of the water? --Kenn

Once a gun gets accustomed to a life of crime, it just can't go back. They call that "recidivism". I've heard of gun rehab programs, but they don't work. Like those Pray Away the Gay classes. You put that criminal gun in the hands of a law biding citizen, before he even knows what's going on he's holding up a liquor store. There's only one thing to be done.

Kind of like in the bible where it says you have to stone to death the man and the animal that participated in, uh, unnatural acts. Once a ewe has had some man-love, a ram just won't satisfy. She'll be out shaking her tail at every shepherd in the field, tempting them into her manger. Plus, once word gets around to the other shepherds that a ewe puts out, fugetaboutit. They'll be lining up around the block.

The state of Maryland just passed some fairly strict new gun control laws that will be going into effect on October 1st. There's a huge run on firearms right now as a large number of people rush to buy the guns they want before the law goes into effect. The state police agency responsible for backgrounding (an already intensive process that will become even more so under the new law) is swamped with applications -- they are receiving 800 a day, and even working 21 hours a day, seven days a week, with additional personnel added to the division, they're only able to process 300 a day and are rapidly falling behind. I bought a Beretta 92A1 on April 6th. Best guess right now is that I'll probably be able to pick it up sometime around mid or late June.

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[On how kangaroos could have gotten back to Australia after the flood]: Don't kangaroos skip along the surface of the water? --Kenn

How about if I just try to point out the misinformation in the posts, and in the various sides of the debate?

No one can walk into a gun store in the US and walk out with a fully automatic weapon. Semi-automatic, yes. It takes a special permit to legally own an automatic weapon in the US. Even a top Al-Qaeda operative stated that his followers should take advantage of these loopholes and purchase fully automatic weapons. Can't be done. http://www.guncite.com/gun_control_gcfullau.html